Occipital Nerve Blocks for Pediatric Posttraumatic Headache: A Case Series

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Pain Management

Background:

• Posttraumatic headache is a common, disabling symptom following traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• Limited evidence exists for effective posttraumatic headache treatments, particularly in pediatric populations.
• Adolescents with mild TBI often experience persistent, debilitating headaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of occipital nerve blocks for treating posttraumatic headache in adolescents.
• To assess the long-term impact of occipital nerve blocks on headache burden and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of adolescents treated for posttraumatic headache at a specialized concussion clinic.
• Analysis of data from 15 adolescent patients (mean age 15.47) who received occipital nerve blocks.
• Follow-up data collected from 14 patients, assessing headache frequency, quality of life, and postconcussion symptoms.

Main Results:

• 64% of patients reported a long-term positive response to occipital nerve blocks.
• Significant improvements were observed in quality of life and reduced postconcussion symptom scores (P < .05).
• Occipital nerve blocks were generally well-tolerated, with one case of transient alopecia.

Conclusions:

• Occipital nerve blocks can be a beneficial and well-tolerated treatment option for adolescents with posttraumatic headache.
• This intervention shows potential for improving outcomes in pediatric TBI patients with persistent headaches.
• Further research is warranted to solidify the role of occipital nerve blocks in managing pediatric posttraumatic headache.